Pets in a Jar: Collecting and Caring for Small Wild Animals

I ordered this book at the start of quarantine back in March 2020. My, then, 4 & 2yo boys obsessed over this (esp the 4yo). We had so many "pets". One pet, a toad, is still alive and well and loved (March 2020- March 2021). They spent all spring and summer last year hunting for bugs for this guy to eat (4hrs a day) and any bugs he wouldn't eat we'd read the chapter and see how to care for them and keep them for a period as well. Great at-home pass time. I just ordered some larger jars from Ikea since spring is coming again and I know this book will be coming out more and more again. We are a book-loving family, but this was one of the most treasured books of all.

If your child likes to try to "keep" every small creature in a jar, then this is a great book for you. My children always did this, but it's hard to know how to keep them alive. This great black & white printed book is loaded with information. It's one that has gotten much attention by the children & a curious mom.

When I was 8 years old, I found a copy of this book. I'm not really sure how I found it, I just know that I had a copy and I absolutely loved it. Because of this book, I experienced what it was like to keep alive many small animals and learn to care for them as pets. I remember specifically catching crickets, making my jar as a small living area for them, and feeding them melon slices after dinner. In the evening, they would chirp in my room as I went to sleep. It became a great childhood memory. Other animals were cared for in my posession, like tadpoles, praying mantis, toads, and many more. Each of them were kept for a short time and then released into the wild. As it was, I am thankful for the experience to have had this book, and I recommend it for any parent to their young child to experience more about the world we live in. I know it was a great experience for me.

Look up your insect or creature & see how to take care of them! Great book to allow children to capture bugs & observe them - then set them free & find something else...

We loved this book when we found it in the school library, and when we had to return it, I decided we needed a copy for at home. It covers 15 different kinds of little, common wild animals that children are likely to find, and how to care for them. None of the equipment is expensive or difficult to find (all the instructions are based off of a 1 gallon pickle jar). Issues like responsibility to the animal and the importance of leaving endangered creatures in the wild are covered. The book is written in a tone that respects the child as a scientist. The information is clear and reliable and sets the young scientist up for success.